Discussion

Wine tasting travel

My DH and I are planning to take off for a five-day trip over Thanksgiving this year, just the two of us. Time spent in Edna Valley and Paso Robles, Calif. made wine lovers out of us (we have since moved to the midwest, where I am in graduate school).

Can you give us some ideas for a tasting adventure that would still be suitable in November? If there aren't many, I might be willing to settle for a tour of wine bars in NYC...

Well, let's try a different approach -- what kind of wines do you prefer? (For instance, it makes no sense to recommend you go to an area where there are great Cabernets if you prefer Pinot Noir, etc., etc., etc.)

Also, do you prefer big wineries? small wineries? wineries not necessarily available in the Midwest? What else besides wine -- or is this truly a wine only trip?

The question, on its face, is so broad that I'm trying to understand more about YOU to give you the best ideas I can.

To answer your questions, we prefer small, boutique wineries (but certainly wouldn't rule out a bigger one if they're awesome), we're both into the "Rhone Rangers" as well as Pinot Noir and Alsatian-style whites and I'd like to make sure things will be open when we're there in late November.

I am of the opinion that just about any varietal (within reason) can be great if made in a certain way. That said, my DH loves Zinfandel, Sangiovese and other full-bodied reds without the big tannins. Neither of us is terribly gung-ho for Cabs (at least, several of the ones we've been able to afford) with the exception of Cabernet Franc, which I tend to really like.

This is primarily a wine trip, though I'd love to be close enough to a decent-sized city to find some great chow. I am a grad student and we're using a "free" companion ticket, so a trip outside of the country is sadly not an option.

Few producers make Alsatian-styled whites better than Navarro Vineyards - http://www.navarrowine.com/ - and their wines are truly excellent. So, too, is their Pinot Noir, as are a number of other Anderson Valley producers, including (alphabetically):

Other wineries here are great, too -- including, but not limited to Handley, Harmonique and don't forget Eaglepoint Ranch - http://www.eaglepointranch.com/ - makes excelent Grenache, IMHO, as well as very good Syrah and Petite Sirah.

Nearby Sonoma wineries to see include (in reverse alphabetical order):

You will find the welcome mat rolled out for you if you book ahead. As was already mentioned, unless you're stopping in a Tasting Room, these are working farms, and most wineries are thrilled to have visitors (except during harvest!) but they'd really prefer you make an appointment, so they can plan some time to spend with you.

A good time to be in the wine country, with one exception. The harvests will likely be over, and the tourists off to Orlando, or wherever. The only glitch will be that some wineries will be working hard at various aspects of getting their recently harvested bounty to market. Still, tasting rooms should be far, far less crowded, and the staff there should have more time to spend. You might even be able to get some barrel-tasting of some of the earlier harvested wines - very worthwhile, though do not expect "finished" wines from a barrel.

Now, I am not clear on one point: do you want to do tastings in the Midwest, or are you heading "back" to CA, WA, OR? I believe that all 50 states now have vitacultural interests, so even in SD, you should be able to find a wine-producing area, just not likely to match the CA Central Coast.

Hello!To be clear: I have absolutely no interest in tasting in the Midwest. We were optimists, but ultimately it just makes me sad and "home"sick for the coast (tiny plastic cups, serve-yourself, wine from plastic boxes with spigots on, dastardly bottles of cherry wine in Door County and catawba grapes in Ohio).

I have loved barrel tasting, it's so fascinating to taste an unfinished wine. I'd definitely love to do that.

Out-of-country travel is not an option, for monetary reasons (see: graduate school). Ha! That said, I adore the Finger Lakes and would definitely like to taste there. Napa might overwhelm my husband, who would definitely take to Mendocino better, and also I'm determined to go when I'm wealthy enough to afford a meal at the French Laundry.

Sonoma, Washington and Oregon look like top choices. Now to find inexpensive, safe lodging in the heart of wine country...

So not true, I have tasted in quite a few Missouri wineries, and not one has used plastic cups, serve yourself, or plastic boxes. They know their wines and how to serve them. Hermann, St James, Rocheport, and Augusta are all very nice wine producing areas. You can do day trips to most out of St Louis, or stay in one of the towns overnight. Great scenery, lovely wines, and gracious hosts.

Thanks for the clarification. Though most of our tasting is done in CA, we try to get to every near-by vitacultural area in the country during travel. Some have really surprised us, while many disappointed, and for many of the reasons that you cite.

In CA, you might want to look into the Santa Cruz Mtn. area, S. of San Francisco, the Amador/Sierra Foothills, E. of Sacramento and the Central Coast Area, from Santa Barbara up to Monterey. Just did the first trip back to Santa Barbara (first one post-Sideways) in 8 years and that place has really grown. Lots of excellent wineries, many that I've never heard of, and very warm receptions at all.

You are correct. Most of the areas that have good Chard & PN are in transverse mtn. areas, where the fog rolls through the valleys inland. The AVA is quiet large and diverse. There is not that much right on the coast, but usually one range inland.

Still, a wonderful area, that has greatly expanded with excellent wines over the last several years. I was surprised at how much good effect, "Sideways" has had. Much recognition has been lauded on the areas, but it appears that most of the development has been restrained. Since I was there, pre-Sideways, there are dozens of wonderful wineries and wines, that have sprung up. The crowds are now down, from what I imagine was the case, just after the release of the film.

I'd speculate that one could spend a week from Santa Barbara up to Monterey and never be bored. Heck, even the drive through the "dry stretch," is worth the mileage!

With the expansion of the area, and the diversity in varietal production, I would not be surprised if they did a split of Central Coast into two AVAs and then did more to differentiate the sub-appelations even more. Until then, we have one vast, and very diverse, AVA.

My point is that it's best to ignore the Central Coast AVA entirely, since most of that enormous area contains no vineyards, and look at the smaller AVAs within it, which are where you'll actually find wineries.

And that someone on a five-day trip should choose either the Santa Cruz / Monterey / Salinas area or the Paso Robles / Edna Valley / Santa Maria / Santa Ynez area.

I suppose that one could say the same about Sonoma and, instead, specify AV, Mendocino, Dry Creek, and not drive about. I would assume that one on a mission to taste, would concentrate on the particular areas, that are of immediate interest, but could be very wrong.

Doing both Dry Creek and Anderson Valley on different days of a long weekend seems to me a more relaxing plan than doing Paso Robles and Santa Cruz Mountains. Though Sonoma alone could easily keep you busy.

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is my favorite area in California, but don't forget that the unofficial motto of the region has always been, "You can't get there from here." (In other words, what may look close on a map may take a very long time in a car.)

Like so many areas in CA, it DOES take a while, and is also a perfect geographic area to have a designated driver! So many folk are amazed, if they have spent much time in Napa, then travel to almost any other AVA in CA, that they have to travel so much. In the case of the Santa Cruz Mtn AVA, the journey is always worthwhile. I feel the same about the Amador/Sierra Foothills area - spread out, but worth it.

The winemakers and people in the area from Santa Barbara up to San Luis Obispo are so down to earth and fun, I can see why you fell in love with wine country. Equally passionate and cool are the wineries around Healdsburg and the town square has so much quaint charm I can hardly wait to get back there myself. Napa is great but there are so many people, and the expense can be a bit much. If you go there though, you must check out Long Meadow Ranch. More than just a vineyard and winery, this is an actual working ranch and proprietor's Ted and Laddie Hall are just amazing people. I am planning a trip to the Okanagan Wine Country of British Columbia for one of their many wine festivals. I don't know much about this area except what I've been told but I am super excited. I live 2 hours from Long Island wine country. It is beautiful in the fall and harvest parties can be anything from organic to downright 5th Avenue Ritz. The Finger Lakes of Northern NY State are breathtaking and the people are kind and funloving. If you like Riesling, this is the place. If you want a seriously different kind of experience, may I suggest Hungary. I lived here for nearly a year studying wine and I beleive this to be the next big wine producing country. Not just for Tokaji but for dry, citrusy, flowery whites and bold new world varietal reds. Not just Bull's Blood anymore. If that's just too crazy for you, remember you can always hop a train to Vienna and you'll be in another of the coolest wine regions in the world. TMI? Sorry but I don't think there is a wrong answer to your question. Wherever there is wine country, there are farmers. And farmers are the most passionate people in the world. And wherever you go, I recommend you get some dirt under your nails. You'll thank me for it.Punk